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== Wordlist | == Wordlist == | ||
* Meli /'me.li/. Servant, to serve, subservient. First person pronoun. Swadesh #1, #4. | * Meli /'me.li/. Servant, to serve, subservient. First person pronoun. Swadesh #1, #4. | ||
* Ce /'ce/. Mother or inspirer, to create, inspiring. Swadesh #42. | * Ce /'ce/. Mother or inspirer, to create, inspiring. Swadesh #42. |
Revision as of 15:20, 21 February 2006
Cenoji | |
Spoken in: | Njetoluhi, by the Sea Elves |
Timeline/Universe: | unknown |
Total speakers: | ~3 000, distributed in clans of about 20 people. |
Genealogical classification: | Njetoluhi
|
Created by: | |
Eosp | 2006 |
Phonology
The vowels [a], [e], [i], [o], and [u] are pronounced /{/, /e/, /i/, /2/, and /y/, respectively. [i] is pronounced /I/ if directly preceded by the letter [j].
The consonants are [c], [f], [h], [j], [l], [m], [n], [s], [t]. All of these are pronounced like their lower-case X-SAMPA counterparts, except for the following:
- [c] = /s/
- [h] = /x/
- [s] = /S/
- [t] = /T/
All of the consonants except [j] and [s] can be followed by [j] to make a cluster. Example: [lju] is pronounced /'ljy/.
The syllable structure is <CV>. C is a consonant (or cluster) and V is a vowel.
Emphasis starts high and declines towards the end of the word, but then rises about halfway on the last syllable.
A small pause is placed between grammatical inflections and roots. This is optional but helps when dealing with large words. No such pause is needed between words, because the tone helps clarify this.
Grammar
Cases
- Nominative: indicates the subject of the sentence.
- Accusative: indicates the object of the sentence.
- Temporal: indicates the time an event took place.
- Facilitative: indicates a noun that helps the event take place. In the case of a three-noun sentence (such as I gave a letter to John), letter would be in the nominative and I would be in the facilitative. (this sentence would probably be closer to With my help, a letter gave itself to John.)
- Obstructive: indicates a noun that prevents or hinders an event.
- Result: Indicates the result of a sentence.
Syntax and Rules
- The basic order is Subject-Object-Verb, although any order is valid. The item appearing first is given the emphasis. Example: joe.NOM mary.ACC like indicates that Joe likes Mary, as opposed to Bill liking Mary. If we were to say that Joe likes Mary, as opposed to Joe liking Felicia, we would say mary.ACC joe.NOM like instead.
- Three numbers exist: singular, few (undefined, but usually for numbers less than five or six), and many (anything larger than few).
- Adjectives must agree with their noun in number (singular, few, or many) and case.
- Subclauses are simply sentences with a [na] particle on each end. The equivalents to prepositions (but, therefore) are marking the ending [na] particle with the proper case. Example: I would go skiing, but I had a concussion would be I would go skiing na I had a concussion na.OBSTRUCTIVE.
- There are no definite or indefinite articles.
- Any number of cases may be added to a word to express an added meaning. Example: in a reflexive action, the noun would have both the nominative and accusative.
- The temporal case does not have plural endings.
- There is no future tense, you use the "I plan to verb" construction. This is a cultural consideration, since the Elves firmly believe that the future cannot be predicted and can always change.
- Possession with pronouns (I, you, he, as opposed to Bob) is indicated using the inflections in the table below. Possession for other nouns (Bob, or the tree) is indicated using subclauses and auxiliary verbs, as in: (george.NOM possess.PRESENTINDICATIVE.3PSINGULAR tent.ACC).NOM has-property.PRESENTINDICATIVE.3PSINGULAR green.ACC, which means George's tent is green.
- Verbs are inflected for their pronoun in the table below and the tense, also in one of the below tables.
Grammatical Markers
Case Table
Case | Singular | Few | Plural | Notes |
Nominative | (none) | -i | -itja | |
Accusative | -e | -ne | (remove previous vowel)-etja | |
Temporal | -ju | (N/A) | (N/A) | Only used in the singular. |
Facilitative | -omja | -omjita | -omitja | |
Obstructive | -oho | -uho | -uho | No inflection for "plural". |
Result | -mji | -mjuli | -mjitja |
Verb Tenses
Mode | Past | Present | Conditional | Notes |
Subjunctive | -lolahi | -ninahi | -fjofahi | Only used when talking factually. |
Fantastic | -lunalju | -minamju | -ninanju | Used in storytelling, lies, etc. |
Imperative | -nitu | -ljatu | -fehija | Command form. |
Verb Inflections to Serve as Pronouns
Person | Singular | Few | Plural | Notes |
First | -ji | -je | -je | |
Second | -li | -le | -lja | |
Third | -hi | -he | -hja | Not inflected for gender. |
Possessive Noun Inflections
These are added to the noun they modify. Plurality is based on the noun, not the pronoun. Gender is optional and is based on the gender of the person.
Person | Singular | Few | Plural | Male | Female |
First | -ni | -ne | -nja | -nu | -nju |
Second | -li | -le | -lja | -lu | -lju |
Third | -hi | -he | -hja | (N/A) | (N/A) |
Wordlist
- Meli /'me.li/. Servant, to serve, subservient. First person pronoun. Swadesh #1, #4.
- Ce /'ce/. Mother or inspirer, to create, inspiring. Swadesh #42.
- Njetoluhi /'nje.T2.ly.xi/. World, to exist, in existence.
- Naha /'n&.x&/. Master, to rule, dominant. Second person pronoun. Swadesh #2, #5.
- Tuseji /'Ty.Se.jI/. Monolith, to enlarge, large, overall. Swadesh #27/
- Noji /'n2.ji/. Language, to speak, spoken.